Bennett-Levy & Marteau- Conclusions

Bennett-Levy & Marteau- Conclusions

-Animals with the 4 perceptual characteristics are less approachable and more fear-provoking

-We fear animals which differ in form from humans ie.phobias are caused by the discrepancy principle

- The findings have implications for the treatment of clinical phobias. The phobic's perception of an animalas ugly, slimy, speedy and sudden to move needs to be dealt with, ideally with sytematic desensitisation

-"The degree to which humans are prepared to approach/fear an animal depends not only on its harmfulness, but also on the presence of certain fear evoking perceptual properties, and it's discrepancy from the human form."